There Needs to be a Shakeup in The White House.

[MadBadger]

And no, i'm not immediately talking about Rahm. And no, I'm not talking about Gibbs.

As a long time Obama supporter, I dont like saying this at all, but I think its time to shake things up and for David Axelrod to return to Chicago.

I think Axelrod did a fantastic job on the campaign, but I'm not hes cut our for this. The reason I say Axelrod, is because the WH is no longer in control of the message. In fact, it doesnt even seem like they are even trying to control it. Every day now, the Republicans seem to be winning the war on the message. And Axelrod has always been the strategist, the guy who crafts the administration's message. Obama needs to be out there more, delivering speeches right to the American people. He needs to look us in the eye, and talk jobs. Hell, even talk to the media or have a press conference. Anything to get your message out to the American people.

Now I'm sure other people need to go (I wouldnt have an issue with Rahm going, as long as his successor is somebody Obama feels very comfortable with), and I'm also sure that A lot of this really isnt Axelrod's fault, its a group effort. But I think the administration is in rut and its time to shake things up.

[dkf]

1. Isn't Ploffe involved too?

I say he needs Bill Gross as an economic advisor. The man is smart.

[BootinUp]

2. Losing control of the message

is not always in one's control depends in large part on events. Its possible that a change as you suggest might be needed, all depends on whether Obama can get the team firing on all cylinders here pretty quick. Now is the time.

[zipplewrath]

3. No Drama

I'm afraid this problem starts at the top. There have been alot of areas that need shaking up, and the president is loath to allow the drama.

[OHdem10]

5. They need to recognize the importance of Theater(Visuals)

to any Presidency. What baffles me is how they have
missed on this.

Kool is ok sometime, but Passion and Conviction can
make or break a Presidency.

[DirkGently]

4. I like Axlerod too. But he was reduced to painful stammering

trying to explain why the President, an accomplished Constitutional Law scholar, STILL does not support gay marriage, in spite of the federal court ruling in the clearest terms, that banning the same is unconstitutional.

That and Gibbs' embarrassing attack on the liberal base upon which the entire campaign was built suggest that there is a lot of frustration in the White House over what to say, how to say it, and to whom. This type of frustration suggests inner tension of one sort or another, which should be remedied.

[CreekDog]

6. The president needed to implement a lot of change to succeed

and then brought an economic team mostly inclined to the status quo.

he didn't even mix in some voices of change to go with the status quo types.

if he doesn't hire people who know their job is to make change and will do so --then where is it going to come from?

[Hawkowl]

7. At least 6 need to go

Axlerod, Gibbs, Rahm, Summers, Geithner and Salazaar.

I doubt they will leave though. And Obama doesn't have the balls to fire any of them.

[WI_DEM]

8. "the sky is falling..." luckily I've seen lots of presidents and administrations

with poll numbers worse than Obama has without half of the problems he inherited and so I'm not as worried as some. Things will get better. Second year of a presidency is usually always tough (as are mid-term elections). What it boils down to is jobs--if the employment picture actually does begin to brighten the poll numbers will take care of themselves.

[JoePhilly]

9. Replace him with who?

[ncteechur]

10. Are they responsible for the mosque and the president being muslim?

What needs to happen is for a large portion of the citizenry of the United States of America to pull their heads out of their asses and quit being stupid dumbasses.

[Uzybone]

12. +1

We can blame framing and optics and feeling our pain all we like. There is a hard 25% of this country who hate Obama and another 20%-30% of empty vessels who will follow whatever the media says.

[secondwind]

11. Let's wait until Obama's vacation is over. September should bring something good!